Dubai Unveils Twisting Ceramic-Clad Skyscraper Designed To Beat Heat

Dubai's skyline has a new addition: a twisting supertall skyscraper designed to cope with the city's extreme heat.

Rising 320 meters (around 991 feet), Wasl Tower features thousands of terracotta-colored ceramic fins across its exterior. According to UNS, the architectural firm behind the project, it has the tallest ceramic façade in the Middle East.

The ceramic exterior is designed to provide passive shading, reduce heat gain and support airflow-an important consideration in Dubai's desert climate, where cooling demands are intense.

Located near Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, the tower arrives as architects worldwide rethink how skyscrapers respond to climate pressures, particularly in cities with extreme temperatures.

Rather than relying solely on mechanical cooling, newer high-rise projects increasingly incorporate passive design features intended to lower energy demand.

"Here, ceramics are not just decorative. They define the tower's identity and performance," UNS told Newsweek.

A Ceramic Facade Designed for Heat

UNS said the project was intended to reflect both Dubai's modern skyline and elements of local heritage.

The 64-story tower includes hotel, residential and office space, including the Mandarin Oriental Downtown Dubai. It is connected to the metro network by a pedestrian bridge.

According to the firm, the façade contains more than 3,800 ceramic fins designed to reduce solar heat gain while still allowing daylight and outward views.

The fins also feature a metallic glaze intended to shift appearance throughout the day as lighting conditions change.

A Twisting Form Inspired by Movement

Its design was inspired by the classic contrapposto pose-an artistic concept that gives figures a sense of dynamic movement and "a constantly changing silhouette from every angle," the firm told Newsweek.

This shifting geometry also plays a critical environmental role. The building's orientation adapts to sunlight exposure, creating "a larger, more closed and heat-resistant shield on the south facade, while opening up the building towards the ocean with a more transparent face," the firm said.

Other sustainability features include solar thermal panels, reflective glazing and daylight-responsive lighting systems. UNS said the structure was also engineered to reduce concrete use by roughly 3,000 cubic meters.

A New Generation of Sustainable Skyscrapers

Wasl Tower joins a growing number of high-rise projects and other buildings around the world that prioritize sustainability and environmental responsiveness.

Milan's Bosco Verticale, a development featuring two residential towers, integrates thousands of trees, shrubs, and plants to absorb carbon dioxide, improve air quality, and naturally regulate temperatures.

Amsterdam's The Edge is widely regarded as one of the world's most energy-efficient office buildings, using solar power and smart systems to generate more energy than it consumes.

In Asia, Shanghai Tower, the third-tallest building in the world, incorporates a double-skin façade and wind turbines to reduce energy use and generate on-site power.

Newer projects such as Milwaukee's Ascent tower, the world's tallest mass-timber high-rise, highlight a shift toward low-carbon construction.

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This story was originally published May 12, 2026 at 11:51 AM.